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Note: The source of the technical material in this volume is the Professional
Engineering Development Program (PEDP) of Engineering Services.
Warning: The material contained in this document was developed for Saudi
Aramco and is intended for the exclusive use of Saudi Aramco’s employees.
Any material contained in this document which is not already in the public
domain may not be copied, reproduced, sold, given, or disclosed to third
parties, or otherwise used in whole, or in part, without the written permission
of the Vice President, Engineering Services, Saudi Aramco.
Section Page
INFORMATION ............................................................................................................... 4
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 4
PUMP PERFORMANCE CURVES ................................................................................. 5
Centrifugal Pump Performance Curves ................................................................ 6
Velocity Triangles....................................................................................... 8
Specific Speed......................................................................................... 17
Curve Variations ...................................................................................... 22
Positive-Displacement Pump Performance Curves ............................................ 39
Performance Relationships...................................................................... 42
Curve Variations ...................................................................................... 44
EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN SYSTEM HEAD CURVES ON PUMP
PERFORMANCE .......................................................................... 45
Piping System Head ........................................................................................... 46
Static Head Component........................................................................... 47
Friction Head Component ........................................................................ 50
Pump Operating Point ........................................................................................ 54
Throttling Flow ......................................................................................... 54
Pump Speed ............................................................................................ 56
Pump Minimum Flow Arrangements ........................................................ 58
Typical System Curves for Refineries and Pipelines .......................................... 63
High Static, Low Friction .......................................................................... 63
Low Static, High Friction .......................................................................... 64
Parallel Pump Operation.......................................................................... 65
Series Pump Operation............................................................................ 66
GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................. 70
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
The selection and testing of centrifugal and positive-
displacement pumps for an application requires an evaluation of
pump performance characteristics against the application
requirements. Pump performance characteristics are typically
provided by a vendor in a graphical format called a
characteristic curve. Characteristic curves provide information
about pump performance in terms of capacity, head, power,
efficiency, and net positive suction head required (NPSHR). This
module provides the Mechanical Engineer with the basis of
centrifugal and positive-displacement pump characteristic
curves and the effect of changes to piping systems on pump
performance.
The head versus capacity curves show the pump head (total
dynamic head) at a known flow rate (U.S. gallons per minute)
when the impeller diameter is known. The Mechanical Engineer
reads this curve by referring to the flow rate (for example, 600
gpm) at the curve for the diameter of the installed impeller (for
example, the 10.50 dia. curve) and by reading the value of head
on the left side of the graph (example 475 ft.).
The head versus capacity curve could also be affected by pump
speed. Because most pumps are driven by a constant speed
motor, the operating speed is designated in the information
section of the plot (for the example that is shown in Figure 1, the
pump speed is 3560 rpm). If a pump is to be driven by a
variable speed driver (e.g., variable speed motor or turbine), the
head versus capacity curves are shown for a range of speeds.
As shown in Figure 1, efficiency versus capacity curves are
superimposed on top of the head versus capacity curves and
are marked by 73, 75, 77, 78, 79 in Figure 1. When the capacity
and diameter of the impeller are known, the efficiency of the
pump can be determined from these curves. The point of
maximum efficiency is called the Best Efficiency Point (BEP).
The BEP should be near the design operating point for the
pump, but the design operating point should never be greater
than 110% of the pump BEP.
The horsepower versus capacity curves are shown at the
bottom of the plot in Figure 1. The horsepower versus capacity
curve is drawn for both the minimum impeller diameter (8.88
dia.) and the maximum impeller diameter (10.88 dia.) available
for the pump. Note that this horsepower is valid only for the
rated specific gravity. Typically, the pumped fluid is designated
on the plot (not shown). If the liquid that is being pumped has a
different specific gravity, the horsepower value must be
corrected by multiplying the horsepower at the required flow and
impeller diameter by the actual specific gravity.
The net positive suction head required (NPSHR) versus capacity
curve is shown in the upper right-hand corner of the plot. The
NPSHR is independent of specific gravity, operating pressure,
and impeller diameter. Impeller diameter changes do not affect
the geometry on the suction side of the impeller. The NPSHR
depends primarily on the suction eye area of the impeller and
the impeller speed.
Velocity Triangles
Velocity vectors are drawn at the entrance and at the exit, and
they are labeled, respectively, with the subscripts 1 and 2. The
symbol u2 represents the peripheral velocity of a point on the
impeller’s exit and, because the speed of this point depends on
the diameter of the impeller and its speed of rotation, the
magnitude of u2 is determined through use of the following
equation:
πD2n
u2 =
720
Where:
u2 = The peripheral velocity of the impeller at the
impeller’s exit, in feet per second
π = Pi, 3.14
D2 = Outside diameter of the impeller vane in
inches
n = Speed of the impeller in revolutions per
minute
720 = Conversion from inches per minute to feet
per second
For example: If an impeller with an 18” outside diameter impeller
is operating at 1150 rpm, the peripheral velocity of the impeller
is:
3.14(18)(1150)
u2 =
720
= 90.3 Feet Per Second
The liquid flowing through the impeller must follow the shape of
the vanes closely; therefore, the impeller’s peripheral velocity
takes a direction fixed by the impeller’s vane angle. The vector
sum of w2 (the relative velocity of the liquid leaving the impeller)
and of u2 (the velocity of the impeller) is c2 (the absolute velocity
of the liquid leaving the impeller). The meridional velocity, cm, is
the component in the meridional plane of the absolute and the
relative velocity. The meridional velocity is always perpendicular
to the impeller’s velocity, u. The meridional velocity is the radial
component of the absolute and relative velocities of the water
leaving the impeller. The circumferential component of the
absolute velocity is shown by the vector, cu2. The absolute
The power required to move the fluid through the pump can be
determined by multiplying both sides of the torque equation by
the angular velocity (ω), which is shown in the following formula:
Tϖ =
Qγ
(
r c cosθ − r c cosθ
g 2 2 2 1 1 1
)
P = Tω
Where:
P = Power in foot pounds per second
ω = Angular velocity in radians
Because Tω equals P, which is the power required, and r2ω
equals u2 and r1ω equals u1, the equation can be written as
follows:
P=
Qγ
(
u c cosθ − u c cosθ
g 2 2 2 1 1 1
)
Power is also equal to the weight of the fluid raised per second
against the head, as shown in the following equation:
P = QγHth
Where:
P = Power in foot pounds per second
Q = Capacity in cubic feet per second
γ = Weight of one cubic foot of the fluid
Hth = The theoretical head of the pump
Combining equations and solving for theoretical head provides
the following equation, which is often referred to as Eulers
equation:
Qγ
Qγ Hth = ( cosα 2 − u1c1 cosα )
g u2 c 2
or
u2c 2cosθ2 − u1c1cosθ1
Hth =
g
or
H=η H
H th
The normal angle of entry is equal to the angle between the inlet
element of the impeller vane and the tangent to the
circumference of the inside diameter of the impeller. When
pump flow rate is reduced below the BEP flow rate value, flow
eddies form on the back face of the impeller vane and on the
working (front) side of the impeller vane. Flow eddies are areas
in which the pumped fluid travels in orbital recirculating patterns
or reduced velocity instead of traveling through the passage to
the impeller exit. The flow eddies reduce the hydraulic efficiency
of the pump. A reduction in the hydraulic efficiency will lower the
actual head produced by the impeller.
Specific Speed
N Q
Ns =
H0.75
Where:
Ns = Specific speed (nq for metric)
N = Rotative speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm)
Q = Flow at optimum efficiency (BEP) in gallons
per minute (gpm) or cubic meters per
second (m3/sec)
H = Total head per stage at BEP in feet or
meters
A unit analysis of specific speed indicates that the value of
specific speed is not truly dimensionless unless the value of the
acceleration due to gravity (g) is placed in the equation
denominator. By convention, the centrifugal pump industry omits
the value of the acceleration due to gravity.
Note that for double flow impellers, Q = Q/2.
Curve Variations
• Affinity laws
• Viscosity corrections
Where:
Q = Flow rate in gallons per minute or
cubic meters per hour
H = Total head in feet or meters
N = Pump speed in revolutions per
minute
bhp = Brake horse power
Subscript 1 = Initial condition
2
H1 D1
=
H2 D2
3
bhp1 D1
=
bhp 2 D2
Where:
Q = Flow rate in gallons per minute or
cubic meters per hour
H = Total head in feet or meters
D = Impeller diameter in feet or meters
bhp = Brake horse power
Subscript 1 = Initial condition
Subscript 2 = Final condition
The two sets of Affinity Laws are sometimes combined into the
following equations:
Q1 N1D1
=
Q 2 N2D2
H1 N12D12
=
H2 N22D22
bhp1 N13D13
=
bhp 2 N32D32
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MANDATORY DRAWING
THIS DRAWING IS DRAWING PLANT INDEX DRAWING SHT. REV.
NOT
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FOR
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Saudi Aramco 2616 ENG. (3/91)
CADD-
• S - Specific gravity.
Hvis = CH × HW
ηvis = Cη × ηW
Hvis
HW =
CH
28
=
0.93
= 30 meters
Figure 12. Parallel Pump Operation with Different Pump Flow Rates
Figure 14. Change in Centrifugal Pump Performance Curves from Wear Ring
Wear Positive-Displacement Pump Performance Curves
Performance
Relationships
Where:
bhp = brake horsepower
Qd = pump flow rate (gpm)
Ptd = pump differential pressure (psid)
ηd = pump efficiency
For SI units:
Q d x kPa td
kW =
60 x ηp
Where:
kW = Kilowatts
Qd = pump flow rate (m3/min)
kPatd = pump differential pressure (kilopascals
differential)
ηd = pump efficiency
Curve Variations
Static Head
Component
A positive static head does not affect the shape or the slope of
the system curve, but the positive static head defines the head
of the system curve with no flow.
Figure 21 shows a simple diagram of a pumping system that
illustrates a negative static head component and the associated
system curve. The static head is considered negative when the
increase in head is in the opposite direction of the flow.
Friction Head
Component
LV 2
= f
hf D2g
Where:
hf = Head loss in feet of liquid
L = Pipe length in feet
D = Average inside diameter of the pipe in feet
V = Average pipe velocity in ft/sec
g = Gravitational constant (32.174 ft/sec2)
f = Friction factor
The friction factor can be calculated by means of several
methods, or it can be determined from charts or graphs.
The easiest method of determining head loss in pipes and
components is to use head loss charts that have been derived
from the various mathematical methods or by empirical
methods. The value for head loss can be read directly from the
charts. The charts are available from many sources, and they
contain head loss values for viscous fluids at various flow rates.
Charts are available for different pipe, pipe fittings, and pipe
component materials. Head loss charts for fittings are based on
the equivalent length of pipe method used to estimate head loss
through a valve or fitting. The equivalent length of pipe is the
length of straight pipe that would provide the same head loss as
flow through the fitting or valve. The ratio of L/D from Darcy’s
equation has been experimentally determined for various pipe
components. When the L/D ratio is multiplied by the inside
diameter of a pipe of specified schedule for a pipe component,
the result is an equivalent length of pipe that is used to calculate
the head loss.
Throttling Flow
The rate of the slope change for a system curve due to throttling
a discharge control valve will vary with the flow characteristics of
the valve.
Throttling a pump suction valve will also affect the system curve.
The inlet static head of the pump will be reduced due to the
pressure drop across the valve. A reduction in the inlet static
head will increase the difference in head (∆H) from the pump
suction to the discharge. An increase in the ∆H across the pump
will raise the static head component of the system curve.
Because throttling a pump suction valve affects the static head
component of the system curve, the shape of the curve (due to
friction) will remain the same, but the curve will be located at a
lower head. The pump curve will intersect the system curve
(operating point) at a lower head and flow rate. Throttling a
pump suction valve is not recommended for centrifugal pumps
because it changes the net positive suction head (NPSH) to the
pump. NPSH is discussed in detail in MEX 211.03.
Pump Speed
Figure 26. Effect of Changing Centrifugal Pump Speed on the Pump Operating
Point
Figure 28. Pump Performance Characteristic Curve and System Head Curve for a
System that uses a Constant Minimum Flow Orifice
Figure 29. Operating Point in Bypass System as System Flow Approaches Zero
Figure 30. High Static Head, Low Friction Head System Curve
Figure 31. Low Static Head, High Friction Head System Curve
Parallel Pump
Operation
Series Pump
Operation
GLOSSARY
best efficiency point (BEP) The point on the map of head, capacity, and impeller
diameter at which hydraulic efficiency is maximum.
Net Positive Suction Head Actual pressure at the pump suction minus vapor
Available (NPSHA) pressure of the liquid.
Net Positive Suction Head The amount of pressure drop that occurs from the
Required (NPSHR) pump suction flange to the pumping element.
performance curve Graphs that show the produced head, the required
power, the NPSH required, and the efficiency as
functions of flow rate.